The Old Wellingtonians’ Association is run by a voluntary committee who represent a cross-section of OWs. They meet at various times of the year to plan, organise and run a range of friendship-raising events which are aimed at a broad range of OWs. They also provide leadership, support and guidance to the Development Office at school in the publication and distribution of newsletters, website updates and social media, all of which is aimed at sharing news amongst OWs, no matter where you are based.

The OWA Committee represents the OWA at school events, such as on Remembrance Day and on Commemoration Day, and warmly welcomes each school leaver to the OWA friendship group as their time at school draws to an end. At the saddest times, when an OW or close family member has passed away, they offer comfort and support to their peers, often travelling some distance to ensure there is a school representative at funeral and memorial services.

And all of this with a smile and a welcome word of encouragement.

Members of the committee are elected by OWs at the Annual General Meeting, according to the OWA’s Constitution which appears below. Everyone is invited to attend and vote, and the nominees for all elections are published here 28 days prior to the elections.

We held our last AGM on 11th November 2023 The link to the minutes are below.

Old Wellingtonian AGM Minutes 2023

Old Wellingtonian AGM Minutes 2022

OWA Constitution

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact development@wellington-school.org.uk.

The OWA Committee

President Simon Cross Richards '71	I am the second generation of my family, following my uncles Ran & Arthur Antrobus in the 1930’s, to attend Wellington and represented the school at Cricket and Rugby. After a break of nearly 40 years, I re-joined the “school family” after being hugely impressed by the changes made since I attended, when my 3 children joined the School. I was asked to join the Friends of Wellington School in 2010 and spent the next nineteen years on the committee of which, thirteen were spent as Chairman until my resignation last year. As well as this post, I served as a Trustee of the Foundation for approximately 10 years and continue to be on the committee of the OWA.  I am very passionate about supporting the school both old and the current generation of students to enhance their experiences at Wellington.
Chair Kate Evans Beech '93	Day-dreamer was the take home message of a recent review of my school-reports. Happiest outside in nature, I struggled academically at school but through hard work and determination managed to get into University through clearing to study zoology. Thankfully Wellington School offered much more than academic teaching and the sports, cadets and much of boarding life gave me many of the skills for my career as a zoologist and field biologists, studying male African elephant and running the charity Elephants for Africa. I am incredibly proud to be President of the Old Wellingtonians (2019-2021) and now Chair and look forward to serving on the committee for many years to come.
Vice Chair Lissie Fuller Beech '05	“If Lissie spent as much time on her grammar as she does singing and sailing then she could be quite good at Latin” is a quote from one of my 6th form reports and it really sums up my time at Wellington. I regret nothing! I had a brilliant 8 years at Wellington getting involved in pretty much everything (apart from Netball - dreadful sport for a dwarf) from the Corps of Drums to competing for Beech in House Swimming (I’m no swimmer!). I still feel very much at home when returning for a Chapel Choir reunion or, most recently, the OWA AGM. If I had spent more time on Latin grammar then I would not have taken advantage of all the outstanding opportunities on offer to me. As a fairly rare (in those days) not fully physically able pupil I remember only one time in my 8 years when I was told I couldn’t take part in something, despite having been on crutches, in a wheelchair or using 1 or 2 walking sticks for a significant part of my School life. I never felt any different from my friends and was very definitely cocooned in a can-do environment rather than one of overly cautious H&S. When I left Wellington I ended up teaching Biology and, (despite all that time spent singing and sailing during 6th form) Latin in the independent sector for 4.5 years before retraining in Human Resources and joining the Civil Service.   I now work for the Cabinet Office, where I am a big advocate for fair treatment and champion the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda (particular for the LGBTQ+ community) in all that do.  Out of work, I have two awesome nieces, and two slightly less awesome cats.  I still sing and sail more than I focus on Latin grammar. I am proud to be able to give back a tiny amount of what I gained from Wellington by being part of the OWA Committee and would love to hear from any OWs who would like to contribute too.
Hon Treasurer Mike Rogers Oak '82
Hon Secretary Eliza Brodie Price's 2005

 

Committee Members:
John Darvall Overside '85	Leaving Wellington in 1985, having boarded in Overside, Darks, for five years, I spent ten years in business before working in TV and Radio. For the last 15 years I’ve mainly worked for the BBC as a broadcast journalist and radio presenter with my own daily news lead, phone in radio show.
Graham Nye Willows '60	I left Wellington eons ago, in 1960, after four happy years in the Willows. Spent near 50 years in the construction industry both on the manufacturing and contracting sides. Now retired in Exmouth, East Devon but active with a search & rescue charity, Exmouth National Coastwatch Institution, as training and fund-raising officer. Previously station manager for four years. All three sons are OWs and live locally.
Matthew Colman Hardwick '87
Rob Palfrey Richards '92	I am the representative of the Old Wellingtonians' Association on the Governing Body and haveserved as a Governorsince 2015.  I am a Vice-Chair of the Governing Body as well as a Trustee of the Wellington School Foundation.  I'm a Director of Minerva SRM Limited, a serving Army Reservist,and have a keen interest in skiing, kite surfing and rugby football.
Lynne Lambourne Beech '93
Rosie Burrows Beech '05

 

OWA Representatives:
Wellington School Foundation	John Darvall - Overside '85
Board of Governors	Rob Palfrey - Richards '92
Friends of Wellington School